Big plays propel Lincoln on Homecoming

Manitowoc Lincoln's Clay Taylor, right, prepares for a hit from Sheboygan South's AJ Gutierrez, left, while on a run for yardage during the Ships' homecoming football game on Saturday.
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Manitowoc Lincoln shot out of the gates against Sheboygan South on Saturday like a rocket. A Red Rocket, to be specific.

From there, Ships playmakers made plays en route to a 31-7 win on Homecoming, greatly improving playoff chances with two games to go.

Manitowoc (4-3, 3-3 Fox River Classic Conference) plays a Green Bay West (1-6, 0-6) next Friday, with a win almost surely locking up a playoff spot. The Ships end the season at De Pere (5-2, 4-1).

After forcing South (2-5, 2-4) to punt on its opening possession, Clay "The Red Rocket" Taylor — named for his hair color, not his breakaway speed, per se — took a handoff up the middle and rumbled 92 yards for a touchdown and quick 7-0 lead.

Last year, Manitowoc opened its game against South with a kickoff return for a score.

That was just the first of many big plays by Lincoln, the difference in what felt like an otherwise competitive game.

The second one came on a deft play call — by a player.

Junior David LaTour called his own number, on a fake punt, and it worked. On 4th and 4, LaTour not only picked up the first down, but a touchdown, from 64 yards out.

The Ships attempted a fake punt last week that failed; Lincoln coach John Dixon joked the coaches "were chicken" to call it again this week.

"The footing in the middle of the field was not good enough," said Dixon. "The coaches did not call it, the players did. David LaTour called it."

In all, Manty ran for 399 yards and passed for 99 more. Quarterback Trevor Feest threw for 92 yards and also ran for 35, using his feet to convert several third downs. He threw a 20-yard TD pass to Derer Rohrer in the second quarter. Logan Michalek capped the game with a fourth-quarter four-yard TD run.

The defense did a great job of slowing productive South back Boris Ristivojevic. Ristivojevic, who averaged 166 yards per game, was limited to just 66 yards on 30 carries. His longest of the day, 14 yards, was on the opening carry of the game.

"Boris ran the ball hard, but they have a sound defense," South coach Scott Rice said.

Manty also picked off four passes, all in the second half, two of which were in the red zone.

The backbreaker for South was an interception by senior Bryce Hrudka, who took it back 26 yards for a touchdown.

Junior Ryan Shilts picked off a pair of passes and senior Marc Clifton had one as well. Senior Austin Braun had a key sack on fourth down. Hrudka was busy, with a team-high seven tackles, including two for loss.